Christos Tzolis debuted as Reiss Nelson, Ethan Nwaneri and several academy players featured in Arsenal’s 3-0 friendly victory.
Arsenal eased to a 3-0 win over MK Dons in a behind-closed-doors friendly at the Sobha Realty Training Centre, giving Mikel Arteta a first real look at his new signings, returning loanees and a healthy contingent of academy talent.
The first-half team carried plenty of senior experience. Kepa Arrizabalaga started in goal, with Riccardo Calafiori, Cristhian Mosquera and Myles Lewis-Skelly also involved alongside Gabriel Jesus in attack, according to Arsenal’s report.
Christos Tzolis, making his first appearance since arriving from Club Brugge, wasted little time getting involved. Stationed on the left, he set up Reiss Nelson for a chance inside the opening minute.
That same partnership delivered Arsenal’s opener after ten minutes. Tzolis combined with Calafiori before picking out Nelson, who tucked his finish into the bottom corner to mark his return in style. Perhaps a taster of what the Gunners could see down the left side between Calafiori and Tzolis this season.
Nelson returns from a season-long loan at Brentford, where regular Premier League minutes proved elusive. The 26-year-old featured 14 times in all competitions for the Bees, his only goal coming in a 5-0 Carabao Cup win over Grimsby Town.
Brentford’s Director of Football, Phil Giles, previously admitted Nelson would have wanted more league action, though he praised the winger’s attitude and influence around the group. The goal here does not resolve Nelson’s Arsenal future, but it is perhaps a positive start to a summer where his role with the club needs further clarity.
Ethan Nwaneri, also back from a challenging loan, added Arsenal’s second before the break. He curled a shot into the bottom corner after being picked out on the edge of the box from a well-worked corner routine.
Nwaneri spent the latter part of last season at Marseille. A bright start faded as opportunities dried up, and he returned to North London with two goals and an assist from 11 appearances.
His circumstances differ from Nelson’s, given his age and long-term prospects at Arsenal, but the next few weeks still present Nwaneri with a chance to stake his claim in Arteta’s plans.
It was not all about experience in the first half. Max Dowman lined up opposite Tzolis, while academy defenders Louie Copley and Marli Salmon were handed starts. Copley slotted in at right-back, with Salmon alongside Mosquera in the centre.
Arteta rang the changes at half-time, introducing eight fresh faces and shifting towards an even younger line-up. Kepa, Salmon and Copley stayed on initially, but by the 59th minute, new signing Illan Meslier was between the posts.
It was Meslier’s first outing in Arsenal colours. The Frenchman came on with the team comfortably ahead, but still had to be alert late on to deny Daniel Barlaser and keep the clean sheet intact.
The second half also stood out for the number of academy players getting their first taste of senior football.
Josh Ogunnaike, Brayden Clarke, Demiane Agustien, Ceadach O’Neill and Evan Mooney all made their first non-competitive appearances for Arsenal. Later, Theo Julienne and Marcell Washington joined them in making senior debuts, with Andre Harriman-Annous taking the captain’s armband.
O’Neill made the biggest impression of the group. The Northern Ireland youth international latched onto Agustien’s lofted pass and finished for Arsenal’s third, with both academy players directly involved in the move.
With the game played behind closed doors and so many changes throughout, the 3-0 scoreline only tells part of the story. More importantly, it offered an early snapshot of where a number of players stand.
Tzolis and Meslier got their first minutes in Arsenal shirts, Nelson and Nwaneri made encouraging returns after testing loan spells, and a new crop of youngsters experienced the senior set-up for the first time.
Next up is a training camp in Girona, where Arteta will have a closer look at which academy players might stick with the first team and how returnees like Nelson and Nwaneri fit into the squad he is shaping for the new season.